Devices, systems and methods for biological analysis

Abstract

Systems are described that provide thermal rates of change occurring in fluidic compartments, such as reaction chambers of a fluidic device, so as to achieve significantly reduced overall reaction times. Moreover, various biological analysis systems enhance temperature uniformity occurring within a reaction chamber that is subject to external thermal exchange to control a temperature therein. To increase thermal rates of change and/or enhance temperature uniformity, various embodiments of the present disclosure rely on one or more thermally insulative portions of the device surrounding chambers in which thermal cycling reactions and/or other change in temperature occurs. Providing fluidic devices with relatively fast reaction rates and thermal uniformity can both reduce the overall time for such reactions and enhance accuracy of results.

1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A fluidic device for conducting a biological assay, the fluidic device comprising:
 a fluidic component defining a fluidic network comprising a plurality of chambers; and   a surface feature located proximate at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers, the surface feature configured to manipulate light transmitted toward the surface feature in differing patterns based on a substance in the at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers covering a location of the surface feature.   
     
     
         58 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , further comprising a circuit board component configured to align a thermal energy generation element with the at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers, and one or more thermally insulative portions adjacent a perimeter of the at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers. 
     
     
         59 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , wherein the surface feature is configured to reflect the transmitted light based on a presence or absence of air in the at least one chamber of the plurality of chambers. 
     
     
         60 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , wherein the surface feature is a first surface feature, and wherein the fluidic device further comprises a second surface feature positioned to intercept light reflected from the first surface feature and reflect the intercepted light in a direction opposite to a direction of the transmitted light toward the first surface feature. 
     
     
         61 . The fluidic device of  claim 60 , wherein the second surface feature is defined by a wall of the fluidic component adjacent and outside a perimeter of the at least one chamber. 
     
     
         62 . The fluidic device of  claim 60 , wherein the first surface feature and the second surface feature define an angled recess in an interior wall surface of the portion of the fluidic component defining the at least one chamber. 
     
     
         63 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , wherein the surface feature is configured to direct the transmitted light into the at least one chamber based on a liquid in the at least one chamber covering a location of the surface feature. 
     
     
         64 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise air gaps in the fluidic component. 
     
     
         65 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the fluidic component has a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, and a thickness dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral dimensions, and wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise air gaps are cored out portions through the thickness dimension of the fluidic component. 
     
     
         66 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a material of the fluidic component defining the fluidic network. 
     
     
         67 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions are regions of the fluidic component of reduced thickness relative to the thickness of the fluidic component. 
     
     
         68 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , wherein the plurality of chambers comprises:
 a reaction chamber; and   a detection chamber including a lateral flow substrate, the lateral flow substrate comprising:
 at least one capture region including one or more reagents configured to react with a labeled target analyte to provide a detectable signal in response to the reaction; and 
 a fiducial mark present at the at least one capture region, wherein the fiducial mark is configured for detection calibration. 
   
     
     
         69 . The fluidic device of any of  claim 68 , wherein the fiducial mark is configured to disappear upon an aqueous substance contacting the fiducial mark. 
     
     
         70 . The fluidic device of any of  claim 68 , wherein the fiducial mark is configured to be sensed by an imaging device. 
     
     
         71 . The fluidic device of  claim 68 , wherein the reaction chamber has a pair of opposing longitudinal sides and the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise two portions respectively disposed adjacent each opposing longitudinal side of the pair of opposing longitudinal sides. 
     
     
         72 . The fluidic device of  claim 68 , wherein a perimeter of the reaction chamber comprises two opposing longitudinal sides and two opposing lateral sides, and wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise at least three portions respectively disposed adjacent differing sides of the perimeter. 
     
     
         73 . The fluidic device of  claim 72 , wherein the one or more thermally insulative portions comprise four portions respectively disposed adjacent each of the two opposing longitudinal sides and the two opposing lateral sides. 
     
     
         74 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the circuit board component is configured to align a thermal energy generation element with a heat-labile material. 
     
     
         75 . The fluidic device of  claim 58 , wherein the circuit board component is a flexible circuit board. 
     
     
         76 . The fluidic device of  claim 57 , wherein the fluidic network further comprises one or more vent pockets in fluidic communication with one or more of the plurality of chambers, and a heat labile material sealing the one or more vent pockets.